Medicina
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Background and Objectives: Asymmetries between the lower limbs were evaluated by both researchers and practitioners as they seem to be related to the occurrence of injuries and the effect on performance. The purposes of this study were to (a) detect asymmetries of the lower limbs using a unilateral jump (single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ)) and 505 agility test, and (b) examine asymmetry effects on fitness (acceleration, speed, squat jump, Illinois agility test), in U16 youth male soccer players. Materials and Methods: Twenty U16 soccer players performed an SLCMJ and a 505 test to calculate the asymmetry index. ⋯ This indicates the variability in asymmetries and the need for specialized tests depending on the kinematic chain. The asymmetries observed should be eliminated using individualized training programs so that athletes are protected from injuries and from the possible negative impact on performance. Also, the detection of asymmetries in developmental age offers a greater time period for their elimination before the athlete enters professional sports.
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Background and Objectives: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a pain-alleviating and muscle-relaxing treatment used in physio-therapeutic clinical practice, has recently appeared to be just as effective in dysphonia. This review aimed at clarifying whether TENS can be an effective practice in dysphonia therapy and/or management on its own or combined with other types of interventions and, hence, whether its practice can be a useful, more widespread establishment to speech and language therapy intervention methods. Materials and Methods: A search was conducted on the PubMed database using specific terms based on the PICO search strategy. ⋯ TENS was compared to manual laryngeal therapy (LMT), placebo TENS, and vocal therapy in different studies with mixed results. Conclusions: This review supports the idea that a multidimensional approach, incorporating various therapeutic modalities (TENS, LMT, speech therapy, and vocal training) can yield positive outcomes for patients with voice disorders. Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms of action and optimal treatment protocols for TENS in voice therapy.
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Background and Objectives: Automated methods for the analysis of myocardial perfusion studies have been incorporated into clinical practice, but they are currently used as adjuncts to the visual interpretation. We aimed to investigate the role of automated measurements of summed stress score (SSS), summed rest score (SRS), and summed difference score (SDS) as long-term prognostic markers of morbidity and mortality, in comparison to the prognostic value of expert reading. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the Nuclear Medicine Laboratory of the University of Thessaly, in Larissa, Greece. ⋯ Results: Expert scoring of SSS and SDS had significantly greater prognostic ability in comparison to all software packages (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Similarly, ECTb-obtained SRS measurements had significantly lower prognostic ability in comparison to expert scoring (p < 0.001), while expert scoring of SRS showed significantly higher prognostic ability compared to MYO (p = 0.018) and QPS (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite the useful contribution of automated analyses in the interpretation of myocardial perfusion studies, expert reading should continue to have a crucial role, not only in clinical decision making, but also in the assessment of prognosis.
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Observational Study
Evaluation of Changes in Circulating Cell-Free DNA as an Early Predictor of Response to Chemoradiation in Rectal Cancer-A Pilot Study.
Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate quantitative changes in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) found in the bloodstream of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiation, assuming a change in DNA fragments release during therapeutic stress. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study that involved 49 patients who had three distinct pathologies requiring neoadjuvant chemoradiation: 18 patients with breast cancer, 18 patients with cervical cancer, and 13 patients with rectal cancer. Both breast cancer and cervical cancer patients were used as a control groups. ⋯ Of the thirteen patients, only six underwent surgery, and one of them achieved a pathological complete response (pCR). The mean size of the tumor was 122.60 mm3 [35.33-662.60 mm3]. No significant correlation was found between cfDNA, tumor volume, and tumor regression grade. cfDNA does not seem to predict response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and it is not correlated to tumor volume or tumor regression grade.
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Case Reports
Case Reports from Women Using a Quantitative Hormone Monitor to Track the Perimenopause Transition.
The fertility tracking of menstrual cycles during perimenopause with a quantitative hormone monitor is a novel undertaking. Women in regular menstrual cycles have been tracking their fertility using different biomarkers since the 1960's. Presently, there are newer electronic hormonal devices used to track fertility that provide more exact and objective data to help delineate the fertile time frame of a woman's cycle. ⋯ In this retrospective analysis, forty-two women aged 40 to 50 tracked their cycles over time, and eight of these forty-two women used the quantitative hormonal device. With the use of this device, the perimenopausal period has revealed distinct hormonal cycle characteristics that are unique to this group of women. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss these cycle's characteristics during perimenopause, which were found with the use of the quantitative hormonal device.